By Glenn Hicks

Prince Albert gears up for mega boxing bout

Aug 25, 2017 | 2:55 PM

Prince Albert, like the rest of the planet, is lacing up the gloves for what’s being billed as ‘the biggest fight in combat sports history.’

Undefeated American boxer Floyd Mayweather takes on the UFC mixed martial arts brawn of Irishman Conor McGregor Saturday night. McGregor has never boxed before and the fight is expected to generate $600 million in revenue, mainly through pay-per-view TV and Internet.

Blake Edwards who coaches at the Thomas Settee Boxing Club in Prince Albert said the fight has captured the imagination of the public.

“It’s helped both mixed martial arts and boxing in my opinion; this rivalry has helped put the sports into the limelight,” Edwards said.

Lucian Phillips, the owner operator of LDP Martial Arts, said this fight isn’t supposed to happen because McGregor isn’t a boxer and yet he’s about to take on the best boxer in the world.

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“Mayweather is obviously much more skilled,” Phillips said. “But McGregor brings power punching and can mix up the angles and timing.”

So what’s the prediction from the two local coaches?

“I don’t like either character but I’m going with the boxer,” Edwards said.

As for Phillips he also says Mayweather should win but “there’s always the McGregor factor.”

That suggests anything could happen which is probably one of the main reasons behind the fight’s appeal.

Edwards and Phillips plan to watch the pay-per-view spectacle at home but there are plenty of other options if you don’t fancy dishing out the $100 charge.

Several venues around Prince Albert including Boston Pizza, Northern Lights Casino, Gas Tavern, Movado’s and JT’s will show the fight on their screens with a cover charge. That ranges from $5 to $20 depending on the venue.

Glenn.Hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow